Generating a composite result using inflammation data

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing an adverse health condition are provided. A digital communication network (DCN) is provided for a plurality of members of a population to interact with each other. A C-reactive protein (CRP) sample and at least one other inflammatory biomarker sample are received from an individual member. The CRP sample and the other inflammatory biomarker sample are analyzed and a CRP level and an inflammatory biomarker level are determined from the analysis. A composite result based on the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level is generated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for managing an adverse health condition, the method comprising:
 providing a digital communication network (DCN) for a plurality of members of a population to interact with each other and the DCN;   receiving a C-reactive protein (CRP) sample from an individual member of a plurality of members of a population;   receiving at least one other inflammatory biomarker sample from the individual member;   analyzing the CRP sample and the at least one other inflammatory biomarker;   determining a CRP level from the CRP sample and an inflammatory biomarker level from the at least one other inflammatory biomarker sample;   generating a composite result based on the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level; and   providing the composite result to the individual member via the DCN,   wherein the composite result correlates to whether the individual member is experiencing inflammation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite result comprises at least one of:
 an index created by adding values of the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level,   an index created by providing a highest level of an index created by adding values of the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level,   a spider graph plotting the levels of an index created by adding values of the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level,   an index calculated from the area inside the spider graph plotting the levels of an index created by adding values of the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level, and   an index calculated as the average plus x times the standard deviation of the levels of an index created by adding values of the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarkers level are normalized. 
     
     
         4 . The method in  claim 3 , further comprising normalizing the values of the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level. 
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 1 , further comprising comparing an index of the composite result with a predetermined threshold and determining that the individual member is experiencing inflammation when the index meets the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other inflammatory biomarker is at least one of: TNF-alpha, IL-1 Beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IL-17a, IL-12, INF, IL-23, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Plasma Viscosity, Fibringen, Ferritin, Procalcitonin, Psychometric Instruments of depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive load, and Fasting and postprandial Insulin. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adverse health condition comprises at least one of chronic systemic inflammation, malaise, low energy, a disease, a health risk, social dysfunction, or a prodromal disease. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the disease comprises at least one of obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, eczema, cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, depression, or anxiety. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the health risk is at least one of falling or becoming infected with an illness. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to measure chronic systemic inflammation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to manage the adverse health condition in the population. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to reduce the health risk in the population. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a question to the individual member from the DCN, wherein the question is designed to induce a reflection based on the composite result. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the question is further designed to induce the reflection based on lifestyle and environmental factors that caused the composite result. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reporting the composite result in the DCN. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising enabling the individual member to share the composite result with other members in the DCN. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising allowing the other members in the DCN to comment upon the composite result. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein enabling the individual member to share the composite result comprises at least one of:
 sharing the results via a conversation bot;   allowing the member to discuss the results with the conversation bot; and   drafting, by the conversation bot, a communication to share with the other members in the DCN.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the conversation bot is designed to have a conversation configured to induce a reflection about the composite result in the member. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a computer processor;   a data repository in communication with the computer processor and storing:
 a C-reactive protein (CRP) sample, 
 a CRP level, 
 an inflammatory biomarker sample, 
 an inflammatory biomarker level, and 
 a composite result, 
   a composite result generator configured to receive the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level as input and to output the composite result;   a digital communications network which, when executed by the computer processor, provides a network for members of a population to interact with each other; and   a server controller which, when executed by the computer processor:
 provide a digital communication network (DCN) for a plurality of members of a population to interact with each other and the DCN; 
 receive the CRP sample from an individual member of a plurality of members of a population; 
 receive the inflammatory biomarker sample from the individual member; 
 analyze the CRP sample and the at least one other inflammatory biomarker; 
 determine the CRP level from the CRP sample and the inflammatory biomarker level from the inflammatory biomarker sample; 
 generate the composite result based on the CRP level and the inflammatory biomarker level; and 
 provide the composite result to the individual member via the DCN.